HSB 629 (LSB 6064YC (2) 84)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON FORRISTALL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to eligibility of older children for the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256C.3, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Eligible children.  A child who is a resident of Iowa and is four years of age on or before September 15 of a school year shall be eligible to enroll in the preschool program under this chapter. If space and funding are available, a school district approved to participate in the preschool program may enroll a younger or older child in the preschool program; however, the
 
a younger child shall not be counted for state funding purposes.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256C.4, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  To be included as an eligible student in the enrollment count of the preschool programming provided by a school district approved to participate in the preschool program, a child must be
 
at least four years of age by September 15 in the base year and attending the school district’s approved local program.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to eligibility of older children for the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children. Under current law, the program allows enrollment of a child who is younger or older than four years of age by September 15 if space and funding are available. However, the younger or older child cannot be counted for state funding purposes.
   The bill amends Code section 256C.3, relating to eligibility for the program, and Code section 256C.4, relating to funding provisions and enrollment, to allow a child older than four years of age to be counted for state funding purposes. Existing law in Code section 256C.4 prohibits a student included in the enrollment count under the state foundation aid formula determined under Code section 257.6 to also be included in the enrollment count for the preschool program.